ASSOCIATION OF FARMERS' CLUBS. 677 



of the selecting of those into whose hands are to be placed, to a very 

 large extent, ihe many interests of the association daring the coming 

 year. In consideration of the large discretionary powers w T hich under 

 its somewhat distinctive organization is placed in the hands of the asso- 

 ciational officers, it is of great moment that in the selecting of those 

 officers wise considerations alone shall guide. 



As with each preceding annual convention — so will it be with this 

 one — people will carefully scrutinize its every act and critically review 

 every measure which it shall adopt. Your acts and your conclusions 

 must stand the judgment of public option. Let them be such that they 

 will not suffer when tried before the bar of this, the final court. It has 

 heretofore been fully demonstrated that this association is composed of 

 delegates sufficiently broad in their views and sufficiently charitable in 

 their sentiments, to permit with safety the full examination of every 

 question which should come before it for consideration. Let its good 

 name and fair name be fully maintained and let those courtesies and 

 that forbearance which have heretofore prevailed, abide with us at this 

 time. If it shall seem that work for the coming year has not been out- 

 lined herein with sufficient detmiteness and clearness, let it be remem- 

 bered that the association has now the experience of past years to aid 

 it and scarcely needs other assistance. 



As your presiding officer, I shall to the best of my ability, endeavor 

 faithfully to discharge the duties devolving upon me. I ask for your 

 charitable judgment if errors occur, and ask for and expect your earnest 

 co-operation with me, to the end that the earnest and calm deliberations 

 of the delegates here assembled, over every important question which 

 shall come before you for adjustment, right conclusions only may be 

 reached;, and that the work here done shall establish beyond question 

 the ability and integrity of this convention. 



The boys of the Industrial School presented a gavel to the President. 



Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, Col. J. H. Brigham, addressed 

 the association. He spoke in part as follows: "My proudest thought 

 is that I have devoted a large portion of my life to the organization of 

 farmers. Individually, farmers are weak. Organized, they can accom- 

 plish almost everything they may undertake. The fraternal relations 

 existing between the Farmers' Club and Grange in this State portends 

 great prosperity for both. Agriculture is the most important of all in- 

 dustries. There is not enough of both gold and silver mined annually 

 in the United States to pay for one-half the annual egg product of the 

 American hen. Not enough is mined in the whole world to pay for the 

 wheat or corn product of this country' for a single year. Other interests 

 may be destroyed, but agriculture must remain. When agriculture goes 

 all else goes with it. When times are hard and business depressed, the 

 first gleam comes with returning prosperity to the farmer. Farmers 

 should not antagonize other interests. Neither should oilier interests 

 fail to respect farmers. I have no sympathy and no patience with the 

 man who attempts to array class against class. Farmers are uoi fairly 

 represented in legislative affairs. They should demand recognition in 

 the distribution of honors. How else can we expect to keep ambitious 

 boys upon the farm? We pay more than our share of taxes. This should 

 not be. We arc willing to pay our share but no more. How can we 



